The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-03-04
LOND0N'S POOR.
HARDWORkING PEOPLE AND \
GRASPING LANDLADs.
4 Picture of Lir, Among the Lowry
in London-How They Live
and Eat and Have
Their Being.


Their Being.
George r. Sims investigating the cor
dition Of the London poor for The daily
Ncirs, writes: called on M old friend,
Caleb Plummer. Caleb came 10 the door
with a wooden toy in his hand. 1t was
Caleb Plammer's kind face; it was Caleb
RUNNERS genial, benevolent smile; but
he was younger Caleb and taller
Caleb and more upright looking Caleb
than the Caleb Dickens drew. Caleb is
a famous hawker, and resides in one Of
the filthy courts near the old mint. In
this little house live at the present time
SIX families. one family in each room.
Calebs own family consists Of eight per
sons, aud they are all crammcd into one
small apartment Caleb Is a hawker Of
the ''old school, and Knows every trick
OF the trade Though he has never read
a newspaper in his life, and couldn't if
he wanted to, there is no. new dodge by
which few pence can be earned in his
particular line that Caleb does not master
before it is a day old Caleb in his time
has piled his trade of huckstcr in all the
best markets OF the metropolis His
''barrer" has stood at popular corners Of
the New Cut, it has ostled other famous
''barrers' in Glare market on Saturday
nights. it has been in the Dials on Sat
urday morning. and it has proudly held
its own against the Hebrew barriers Of
Brick Lane.
But the bad times and an ever-increas-
irg family have crippled Caleb's resour-
Cos. IF, " to use his own words, "he
could only have kept half quid ahead
of the week, - he could have gone on and
mad. a good living, but the children
kept coming and wanting all he had
made. and SO with less and less capital
to buy a good stock, he lost his borrow
trade in the markets and came down to a
basket and the streets.
Now it Is a fierce struggle for bread.
This morning Caleb has sent his wife to
pawn his militia boots and her own
boots that the children may have some
breakfast. The toy in his hand shows
that when he can't buy goods to haw k
he Is not idle. II is a '.WateIlo1 bed
stead, couch for the repose of some
young lady's pettcd doll. Caleb can
make about fifteen a day and sell them
for -nny apiece But before he can
60 this he must invest a little capital
The bedstead is ma le Of wood, a tin arch
supports the canopy, slips of some kind
OF remnants are nailel across the frame
work that should support the mattress.
Caleb has to Luy shilling's worth of
the remnants at time; the lin costs him
Z rnsa hal s..v III q
three sorts of nails required to complete
the manufacture. One sort costs him
three pence per pound; the other four
and oae-half pence packet; and the
smallest, which he calls ''tinglers,n he
can buy iarthings worth of. What he
pays for the wood he did not tell me. As
10 the hawking trade. Caleb assured me
that he had given mp in despair There
was no business to be done. Even if he
got little stock together, things were
so bad he could not sell out. All the
hawkcrs in the neighborhood would tell
me the same thing. Caleb had himself
confessed that the size Of his family had
brought him down, but, as a plrting
shot, said: ayes, Mr. Plummcr things
are desperately bad with you, | see, bat
if you hadn't had so many children to
keep, might your position have been
better Il don't know, answered Caleb
with a smile, IF | hadn't been a family
man, | might ha' got boozing and been
transported
\ hawker's wife had b2cn engaged
during our interview in lighting a char
coal fire under can OF chestnuts, ready for
her good man to start out with As the fire
was kindled the narrow yard was filed
with thick smoke and poisonous fumes.
] sneezed and coughed, and wi.hing
Caleb Il hurried good morning, beat a
hasty retreat.
As emerged into the street was as
tonished to lind myself face to face with |
a tall, handsome, beautifully dressed |
young lady. Her heavy tail0r-cut cos
tune might have been lifted bodily from !
the latest fahion-plats in the (ues. To !
my utter amazcment, this vision of |
you'll, beauty and elegance disappeared /
into a filthy howell | waited, and she |
came out again and went into another |
house, and then into another She was /
too smartly attircd 10 be 4 district V sitor |
what could she be- braved the char !
IuAA AulAlNo anu went btiGA 10 1AltD. anu ]
eagerly requested some information on /
the subject The beautiful young lady /
was the owner of half the houses in the /
Stun, and was simply collecting the daily /
rent.
As soon as had recovered from the /
surprise into which the unexpeced sight /
of such elegance and beauty amid such /
had flungm l male my
way to the residence Of another hawker. !
Mr. .Mockett Mr.. Nockett was out, so his !
wife informed me- WAS he out hawk |
ing!" 'Awking!7 replied Mrs Mock
EFT, with a curling lip ''No7 he amt |
got nothin to 'awk, and if he had it /
be much use unless he 'awked /
it to hisself. 1t was the same story
here. There was no :Iade-it was gen
eral stagnation. The family consisted of
six children, and NJ and Mrs. Mockett.
Her husband being unable to earn any
thing, the wife supported the family by
going out and doing washing and choring
when she could get it She used to do /
haddock curing, but that means of earn
ing a livelihood was stopped ur, there /
being no smoke holes allowed now
They had all been put down because
they were a nuisance.